Week 5 - 1: Multiple Intelligences

There are eight different types of intelligences; linguistic, logical-mathematical, musical, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal and naturalistic. Using all the multiple intelligences in the classroom helps students in two ways. Firstly, it gives the students different entry points into the same topic. Secondly, it deepens students understanding. By approaching a topic from so many different angles, it becomes more entrenched in the students’ minds. Teachers should plan their lessons to include more than just linguistic and mathematical skills, which are the traditional methods of teaching. They should make sure to include other medians, so students who have different intelligences can also access the learning. Teachers should be careful to use multiple intelligences as a base for students to learn and develop. These intelligences are not the goal, rather they are an entry point. If teachers allow their students to learn in an area they are successful in, hopefully, they can transfer the confidence they have gained to other skills and intelligences. They will be able to build on that feeling of success and have the confidence to do things that are more challenging for them.